Serena celebrates 700th win

Serena Williams has marked another milestone, punching her semi-final ticket at the Miami Open with her 700th career match win, a 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-3 triumph over Sabine Lisicki.

World No.1 Williams, chasing a third straight title and her eighth overall on hardcourts of Miami, next faces either third-seeded Simona Halep or fellow American Sloane Stephens for a place in the championship match.

The American claimed her 16th straight victory at Miami to improve her record at the event to 71-7.

She became the eighth player to win 700 WTA matches.

Martina Navratilova owns the most match wins, with 1442.

“I didn’t know I had 700, now I just want to keep going, doing the best that I can,” said the 33-year-old Williams, who was presented with a cake from tournament organisers after the victory.

“Just staying positive and winning as much as I can,” she said.

Germany’s Lisicki had a set point chance in the first, but was unable to convert.

She was broken to send the set to a tiebreaker won by Williams.

Williams looked to be on her way when she broke Lisicki in the first game of the second set.

But the German responded, dominating the set before Williams – who claimed her 19th grand slam title at the Australian Open – regained her concentration and sealed the win in just over two hours.

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